About IAPB

Leading Blindness Prevention Efforts Worldwide

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) was established in 1975 as a coordinating, umbrella organisation to lead international efforts in blindness prevention activities. Its first major achievement was to promote the establishment of a WHO programme for prevention of blindness, with which it has remained strongly linked, and which is now embodied in the global initiative, VISION 2020: The Right to Sight.

In September 2013 IAPB approved its new strategic plan 2013-17, which included a revision of our vision and mission.

Vision

A world in which everyone has access to the best possible standard of eye health; where no one is needlessly visually impaired; and where those with irreparable vision loss achieve their full potential.

Mission

To achieve universal access to eye health, by

adding value to and maximising the impact of the individual and collective work of our Members, including those who strive for the inclusion and rehabilitation of those with vision loss,

promoting knowledge and awareness of comprehensive eye health system development, particularly at country level.

Values

In all our endeavours, IAPB Members, staff and supporters will strive to be guided by the following values:

Plurality - we embrace the plurality of approaches we adopt in the pursuit of our common goals, in the belief that our strength derives from diversity rather than uniformity.

Collaboration - we believe that by working together we have far greater chances of achieving change than any one organisation can alone. We actively seek partnerships and collaboration with others as an effective means to achieve our vision.

Goal 2013-17

Access to eye health, particularly for the most marginalised, is increased significantly, fulfilling their right to sight.

Indicator: The prevalence and causes of visual impairment

Target: A 25% reduction in the prevalence of avoidable visual impairment by 2019 from the baseline of 2010, including a reduction in prevalence amongst the most marginalised.